The Ottawa Senators will look to kick off 2015 in the same manner with which they closed 2014 - with a win.
After a long break following Monday's 5-2 win over the Sabres, the Senators still have the door to a playoff spot open a crack. They trail the Bruins by 5 points, but with 2 games in hand, to a winning streak at this point in the season will help them immensely. However, the Bruins themselves are still chasing a playoff spot, currently two points behind the red-hot Rangers who have that position.
Boston is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs, having scored twice in the last 5 minutes to force extra time and earn a point. The Bruins have been buoyed by the return of David Krejci, who has 3 points in his last 4 games, and 30 points in 38 career games against Ottawa.
The teams have split the two games they have played so far this season. Matt Fraser (since departed to Edmonton) had a pair of goals in the first matchup won by the Bruins, while Bobby Ryan's shootout effort was the difference in the second meeting, which also happened to be Dave Cameron's first win behind the Senators bench as head coach.
Craig Anderson gets a rare start against the Bruins, a team that has had his number over the years. He is 5-9 with a sub .900 SP and 3.50 GAA for against Boston in his career, and hasn't started against them since getting yanked last February, allowing 5 goals on 33 shots.
With the injuries to Mark Borowiecki and Marc Methot, the Senators have called up Chris Wideman from Binghamton, probably just as insurance because the team has just 6 healthy defensemen. Don't expect him in the lineup (barring injury or illness), but seeing as though they are about to embark on a 4 game western road swing on Tuesday, they need that 7th body on the blue line just in case. Wideman currently leads the B-Sens in goals (12-tied with Derek Grant), assists (17) and obviously points (29) and is tied for the league lead among defensemen in points.
-- Lazar, Paul Pace Team Canada Attack
While it took Curtis Lazar and Connor McDavid a while to get going in this tournament, there is no doubt that the duo is heating up at the right time. Sure, it was Denmark, but Lazar has done exactly what the Senators had hoped he would. With his 2 goal, 1 assist effort in the quarterfinal, Lazar has now scored in 3 straight games and has 4 goals in the tournament.
Nick Paul has also fared well for Team Canada, and his top shelf backhander was a thing of beauty against Denmark.
Also, if you read my piece earlier in the tournament about Lawson Crouse , I think game by game he has gotten better with each game. I have watched him closely almost every shift this tournament and even moreso after my article touting him as a potential perfect Senator, just because once in a while I like to be proven right. The huge 17-year old continues to impress with his attention to detail defensively while still being an aggressive factor playing on a "grind line". If he is still on the board when the Senators step to the podium in June, it would be a huge mistake to pass on him if it is anywhere outside the top 2.